The Houston Dynamo saw their 10 game home unbeaten streak snapped by the Philadelphia Union in a 3-1 loss — albeit in controversial fashion.
Here are three takeaways from the game:
Straight red card alters the game
The game took a turn in the 59th minute when Tomás Martinez inadvertently stepped on Auston Trusty while making a play for the ball. Trusty cleared the ball a second before Martinez got to the stop. The Argentinian midfielder was in shooting motion when Trusty cleared the ball and Martinez stepped on him. After checking the replay, referee Joseph Dickerson gave Martinez a straight red card.
Up to that point, Houston was on the front foot and looked poised to score and take the lead. But as has been proven time and time again in the beautiful game, when a team plays a man down, more often than not, the opposition takes advantage. And the Union did just that.
With Houston currently outside of the playoff picture in a tight Western Conference, the loss could loom large as the season wears on. The Dynamo lose Martinez for the next game but Houston isn’t going down without a fight. Each team gets two appeals a season and the Orange will use their first one on Martinez’s red card. The appeal has the support of the Major League Soccer Player’s Association.
If the appeal is upheld, Martinez will be allowed to play in Houston’s next match and the red card will be rescinded. If it’s not rescinded, Martinez will serve a one-match suspension.
Lineup changes due to suspensions
If Martinez’s red card isn’t rescinded and is suspended for Saturday’s match against the Portland Timbers, he will join Alejandro Fuenmayor and Darwin Ceren, who are both out for the game due to yellow-card accumulation. With three starters potentially out, it opens the door for new faces to step in. And that’s where Cabrera’s mind was at after the game.
“Now we need to be professionals and think about tomorrow,” Cabrera said. “And forget about today, forget about the referee, forget that VAR expelled Tomas Martinez and think about the upcoming match against Portland.”
The good news is Andrew Wenger, who played 16 minutes on Wednesday. Before that, Wenger last played June 9th but only played 25 minutes and had to be subbed off with a reaggravated injury. Previous to that, Wenger had missed three games. With Wenger back, it could allow Adolfo Machado, who has been logging minutes at right back, to move back to centerback as Wenger slots to right back.
With Ceren and Martinez out, Cabrera could opt for a three-man midfield of Boniek Garcia, Eric Alexander, and Luis Gil. He could also opt to give Memo Rodriguez some minutes. Garcia, who notched his fifth assist of the season, has proved his usefulness when asked to step in and start or come off the bench.
Alberth Elis mini-slump, Mauro Manotas picking up the slack
Alberth Elis started the season on fire. In the first seven games of the season, the Honduran international netted four goals and racked up four assists. And while his production on the season to date, nine goals, and seven assists, is a step-up from his first MLS season, Elis hasn’t scored or picked up an assist since July 7.
“We need a little bit more from Alberth (Elis) that he’s pushing, he’s trying and then it’s understandable playing a lot of games,” Cabrera said, making mention of Houston playing their fourth game in 12 days. “They’re tired physically and then with all those situations from the field you get tired mentally because it’s difficult.”
While Elis is in a mini-slump, Mauro Manotas has more than picked up the slack. Against the Union, Manotas scored his sixth goal in his past seven MLS appearances. The goal takes him to 11 for the season, a new career high for the Colombian striker.
“Yes, Mauro is working hard, listen, despite we’ve been playing so many games in a row,” Cabrera said. “Mauro is scoring goals and it’s good for him individually and collectively. We look for him, but we need to continue helping him.